How to care for fish in an aquarium

In the list of the most common types of pets, aquarium fish are in third place. This is not surprising, an aquarium adds comfort and beauty to the home, and also helps to calm down. In pursuit of these advantages, novice aquarists miss important aspects of caring for fish and their habitat. As a result, sea pets become sick, fade, and in extreme cases die.

Choose a place where the aquarium will be placed

Before choosing the size of the aquarium, decide where it will be located. The tank should not be located above heating appliances, near a window or ventilation, because excessive heat provokes rapid growth of algae, which will require you to clean the aquarium much more often. Place the tank so that it is convenient for you to care for it and without unnecessary manipulations.

Have you decided on the ideal place for an aquarium? Let's start choosing the size.

How to care for fish in an aquarium

Choose the right aquarium size

Each type of fish needs its own habitat. For example, a small aquarium is suitable for guppies and zebrafish, but a lot of space is needed for goldfish. Before you buy a tank, read about the fish you want to keep and consider their needs.

Lack of space leads to consequences such as:

     the fish become lethargic and inactive, their appetite disappears

     rot forms on the fins

     fish lose color

Aquariums in Minsk can be found in specialized pet stores or ordered in the Garfield online store.

Water filtration

Every aquarium needs a good filtration system to keep the water clean. The filter is easy to care for; you only need to wash the sponge material once a week or replace it with a new one.

how to care for fish

Adjust the lighting

Standard lighting is not enough for fish. Due to a lack of light, they get sick and become less active. Choose equipment depending on the size of the aquarium. For small tanks, one lamp is enough; for large tanks, two or three may be needed.

Monitor the temperature in the aquarium

The temperature of the water in the aquarium is set depending on the breed of fish. Favorable temperature for the inhabitants of the aquarium is +23-24 degrees Celsius (except for angelfish, discus fish, black fish).

Always have a thermometer and a heater with you to maintain the optimal temperature in the aquarium.

If you notice that the fish have become inactive, check if the temperature has dropped. Do the inhabitants often swim to the surface to get enough air? Perhaps the temperature in the aquarium has risen and the fish are too hot.

Don't overfeed your fish

Do not forget that an aquarium is an artificially created habitat; there are no other hungry organisms there that will eat the remains of uneaten food. Waste will accumulate at the bottom and create a favorable environment for harmful microorganisms. In addition, overeating can cause fish to gain weight, which is bad for their health.

Each breed of fish has its own optimal feeding frequency. Read the information on the Internet or check with the store clerk on how to properly feed your inhabitants.

aquarium fish maintenance and care

Track your oxygen levels

Without sufficient oxygen levels, the fish die. To prevent this from happening, install an aerator. But do not overdo it with the power of the device, balance is needed everywhere.

For aquariums with live algae, you need to turn on the aerator at night. Plants release carbon dioxide at night and oxygen levels decrease accordingly.

Don't forget to change the water

The main mistake beginners make is completely changing the water in the aquarium. In a closed environment, both bad and beneficial microorganisms develop, which create a healthy environment for fish. If we remove them completely, the inhabitants of the aquarium experience enormous stress.

It is recommended to drain about a third of the water, adding fresh water to the tank. A complete water change in a healthy aquarium is prohibited.

Do not place incompatible fish in the same aquarium.

When purchasing fish, make sure they are all the same type or close to it. There are non-aggressive, semi-aggressive and aggressive freshwater fish. If you try to introduce an aggressive fish to a non-aggressive one, the former may kill the latter.

Semi-aggressive and aggressive fish can coexist together as long as they have room to avoid each other. Some colorful fish that can exist in a community aquarium are neon tetras, zebrafish, platies, guppies, cherry barbs, pearl gouramis, tiger plecos, mollies and swordtails. These fish swim at different levels, so they will be visible throughout the aquarium.

If you want aggressive fish that will co-exist, you can try angelfish, cichlids and larger gouramis.

Do not place even fish that are compatible in nature into the same aquarium if they need different living conditions. One of them will suffer from a lack or excess of one of the water parameters.

Place plants and decorations

Aquarium accessories are an integral part of the aquatic environment. The fish hide behind plants and snags, spawn eggs and sleep. Aquarium decorations should not have sharp edges and should be made of materials that are safe for the inhabitants.

how to care for fish in an aquarium

Basic recommendations for caring for aquarium fish

You need to care for your fish and aquarium systematically and regularly. IN

follow these simple steps and the water world will delight you every day:

     Do water changes every two weeks. Before adding water to the aquarium, it must be left for 2-4 days. Bring the settled water to the required parameters using chemical reagents. In this case, 10-20% of water is required to be changed at a time. In the first two months after filling the aquarium, you cannot change the water. At this time, its own ecosystem is formed, which is better not to touch.
     Constantly clean the bottom of the aquarium from food residues using a siphon.
     Check your fish regularly for signs of illness. If you see a sick fish, remove it from the aquarium and quarantine it.
     Monitor water parameters (temperature, oxygen, composition) daily.
     Use a scraper to clean the aquarium glass from dirt, algae, and driftwood once every 2 weeks with a regular brush.

Starting a new aquarium can be an exciting new adventure. If you run your aquarium properly and take proper care of it, your fish will thrive and delight you for many years to come.